Beam or girder



March 26, 1929. E. B. CARNS BEAM OR GIRDER Filed March 31, 1927 M gr Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES EDM'UND B. CARNS OF NEW'YORK, N. Y.

BEAM B GIRDER.

Application filed larch 31, 1927. Serial No. 179,990.

My invention relates to improvements in beams or girders and is primarily intended to produce a light, strong beam which is peculiarly adapted for use as a wing beam a for aircraft, but which can be used as a beam or girder for other purposes.

M invention is intended to produce a beam or girder of sheet metalwhich, because of peculiar formation and the disposition of ts 19 parts, is strong and because of its material and shape is also very light in proportion to its strength. This is essential in aircraft construction and is desirable for most purposes. l

My invention is further intended to produce a beam or girder from opposed sheet metal plates, which are dis osed in a manner to get the utmost strengt which are fastened together in a way to conserve lightness and increase strength, and which have widened head portions which may be disposed, if desired, so as to give the beam or girder, as a whole, the contour of an I-beam.

In carrying out these ideas, I preferably arrange meeting sheets which are in turn spaced from each other but which meet along the middle portions of the beam and which are provided with perforations or holes to lighten the structure, with the part of one sheet crimped through the hole of the op osed sheet in away to compensate for the hghtening by reason of the holes.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference charactors represent the corresponding parts in all views. V

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of the beam or girder showing my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on ,the line 2-2 of Fig". 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; p

Fig. t is a broken side elevation of a slight modification of the structure; and

F Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of i.,. d. The body of the beam or girder is made up of opposed sheets or lates 10, which are in parallel relation, an meeting at intervals along the body of the beam. To'this end the plates are crimped or bent inward as shown at 11, at necessary or desirable intervals, and holes 12 are made through the sheets to lighten the beam.- The holes occur within the crirnped parts 11 and the metal of one plate is left flat, as shown at 13, around the hole fill liti

. laterally 1 through it, while the hole through the opposed sheet is punched through in a way. to leave sufiicicnt metal to form a flange 14, which can be crimpcd over upon the part 13 and further fastened, if desired, by welding or otherwise. Thus, it will be seen, that the crimping of the sheets as at 11 serves in itself to stiffen each sheet and that as each hole through the sheets is reinforced by a flange wall 14, the sheets are not especially weakened although greatly lightened by perforating.

Near the upper and lower edge portions of the beam, that is, above and below the pcrforations 12, the plates are spaced as shown at 15 in Fig. 3, and at the edges of the plates they are bent outward to form flanges 16, g1 ving the head contour desired. In one form of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the adjacent flanges 16 are covered by a cap 17 which is riveted or otherwise firmly secured thereto and the cap is' centrally corrugated as at 18, so as to fit or sent between the plates 10 while the side flanges 19 ofv the ca ovcrla the edges of the flanges 17 and, i desire these flanges 19 can be crimped inward upon the sheet. The cups are riveted in place in the example shown, as illustrated at 20, and it will be seen that the corrugations 18 in each cap serves to stiffen the cap, while at the same time it seats between the plates 10 and serves to stiffen the plates and in a measure relieves the strain on the fastenings between the parts 16 and 17. The caps 17 also serve to give the nccessar finish and strength, as Well as shape, to tie beam, and it will be seen that if the flanges 19 are not crim ed inward, they will serve the purpose of sti cning the caps and also opportunity to make connection with other parts of the structure, if desired.

The caps 17 can be provided, if desired, at necessary points with lateral] extending gussets 21 and these may be mar e on one or both caps 17, as desired. These gussets are extended so that the gusset on one side wi aline with that on the other side, and they flare outwardly to conserve strength and are preferably flanged as at 22, this flange forming a continuation of the flange 19. Thus, it gives to the gusset a channel form facilitating its attachment to another part and stiffening the gusset. One application of the gusset shown is to enable the beam to seat conveniently against a trans- Verse spar, if desired, but the gusset can be used for making any connection with other parts of the structure, and the "assets are '1' preferably, although not necessarily, integral I' .with the caps'17. It will be noted that the i I gussets are in the same planes as the plates '17, and the flanges 22 are continuations of the flanges 19.- This makes a smooth, strong,

simple construction and permits a good job 1n 6 seat flanges riveted, as shown at 24, to the body-of the beam but they can be otherwise fastened. As these angles extend transversely across the beam girder and fit snugly behind very much to its weight and afford a convenient means for connecting with braces,

i drift rodsor the like. f I

' L In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a slight the head portions or flan es thereon, they serve to greatly stiifen the am, do not add modification of thestructure, or at least another form of head for the I-beam, and in this case the heads 26 of the beam are hollow.

The plates 10 whichform them are'flared' outward as at 27, then bend parallel with the beam body as at 28, again turn inward as at 29 at right'angles to the body of the beam,

are depressed near the center of the head. as at 30, and meet edge to edge as at 31 where the meeting parts can be united by butt-welding, or in any convenient or preferred way. In this structure the angles 23 have their] attaching flanges shaped as. at 25 to abut with the inclined parts 27 of the heads 28 and thus tllti; serve to stiffen and-support the heads.

also be noticed that the metal is shaped and disposed so as to give to the structure, as

let like connection between the a whole, great lightness and also desirable strength. Such a beam has a wide application, can be used to advantage in aircraft, can

be easily and economically shaped and handled and is adapted for many uses.

It will be noticed that-the crimpcd and eyelates 10 serves as an internal brace for the cam and that the angles 23 serve as external braces sions of t 1e cap March, '1927.

2. A beam or irder in the form of an I beam having a we of spaced sheet metal parts with inturned abutting portions at intervals,

said inturned parts being perforated and fustoned together around the periphery of the perforations, the outer edges of the webs bemg flanged to form heads, caps with inturned flanges on the head portions of the beams, and channel gussets extending laterally from the caps with the flat surfaces in the planes of the ca s,'and with flanges forming extenfla v3. A beam or girder in the form of an I beam, having a web of spaced sheet metal parts with inturned abuttmgeportions at intervals, said inturned parts ing perforated and fastened together around the peri hery of the perforat1ons,-the outer edges 0 said web members being-outturned to form head flanges, caps within turned flan es embrac ing the flanges oneach edge 0 the beam, said caps being inturned'centrally to fit between the spaced web plates, and channel gussets extending laterallyfrom the caps, with the flat surface in the planes of the caps and with the flanges form ng extensions of -the cap flanges. r om the foregoin description, it will be seen that I have pro need a beam or girder :which can be made of sheet metal or metallic 1 plates and these can be pressed or stamped withfacility to the desired shape." It. will turned flanges on the head POltlOIIS of tho beams, said caps beingf centrall channeled to fit between and brace the web plates, and channel ussets extending-laterally from the caps, wit the flat surfaces'in the planes of the caps and with the flanges forming extensions of the cap flanges.

f In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this'28th day of IEDMUND B. CARNS'. 

